Unlike other industrial metals, uranium prices traded modestly but may rise considerably due to increasing interest from China in radioactive substance used in weapon and energy production. After trading at about $40 in the first half of 2010, Uranium recently hit a 2-year high of $53.50. Barron’s cites a specialist with MIT Center ofr International studies, who sees $70 as a fair value in the next 12-18 months but some bulls see $90 level as more likely. China is driving the market’s interest in the commodity.The Chinese now have about nine gigawatts of nuclear-generating capacity and, until last week, were expected to have 70 gigawatts by 2020. But Thursday, according to published reports, China announced a new goal of 112 gigawatt by 2020. Stocks that hold uranium are BHP, Rio Tinto, Paladin. Cameco is the only large-cap pure play.
- Barron’s comments on GOP win noting that the new Republican-controlled House could force the President towards more offshore drilling. Pennsylvania is one state that could benefit in terms of energy projects, as the state of the greatest section of Marcellus Shale. Democrats in the Pennsylvania House tried to enact a 10% wellhead tax this year, but the Republican-controlled Senate blocked the move, which would have imposed the country’s highest tax on shale gas. Next year the GOP will control Pennsylvania’s House and Senate, and the governor’s mansion as well. Gov.-elect Tom Corbett pledged not to raise taxes. Drilling for gas is expected to create more than 80,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and increase the state’s tax revenues. This should bode well for other businesses as well, including banking. Two stocks which are mentioned are FedFirst Financial in Monessen (ticker: FFCO) and Standard Financial in Monroeville (STND), have branches in the Marcellus region. Both stocks trade between $12 and $13, and both have book values above $18.
- Positive feature on Alpha Natural Resources. Company reported a disappointing third quarter, well below estimates blaming higher costs primarily on the expense of integrating Foundation Coal Holdings, a producer of thermal coal used in power generation, which Alpha bought last year. But Barron’s notes that shares could rise from $45 to $60 on climbing coal prices and increased output. Also stock is cheaper than competitors.
- European companies which accumulated cash during the credit crunch as a buffer against uncertainty could be under pressure to redeploy it in order to increase value as volatility recedes, credit cycle turns and debt levels fall. A report by UBS identifies companies that may boost shareholders’ value by either paying dividends or buying back stocks. These are Actelion, Beiersdorf, Capgemini, Daimler and retailer Ahold. These companies have cash on their books roughly equal to 5% or more of their total assets, and their share prices largely have underperformed their sectors since the start of the year.
- Tech trader column has a positive mention on JDSU which is growing rapidly in a market where demand is strong, has improving margins and strong bets on new markets.
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